Fear Plot: Rogue
When I wake up - Can you still call it waking up if you can't open your eyes? - the first thing to settle in is panic. Panic. Originates from the Greek Pan. Strange the things that come to mind - Am I insane? - when you're alone.
Alone.
Oh, God. I'm alone. There's no one - I can't - no one.
I can't see. Blindfolded. I can't scream. Gagged. I can't move. Bound.
He - the Dupe, the fucking Dupe - didn't have to bother with rope. Fear is paralyzing. I can't - I just can't.
My stomach feels - no. No my stomach doesn't feel anything; it fell out five minutes ago. Only minutes - does time pass if you can't measure it?
Alone and I don't even have my stomach. My only company is my heartbeat pounding in my ears, deafening.
I can't hear.
My face is wet. I don't know why. My body shakes. I don't know why. I taste metal. I don't know why.
Hours pass. I don't know why.
Don't know or can't know, you gotta know the difference, Madrox. Choose. Make a decision. Can't make a decision. Yes? No?
Oh, God.
Not an answer.
Why are you still here, Madrox? You can get out.
No, no can't get out.
Who are you talking to?
Can't talk.
Exactly.
Oh, God.
Can't help you, here.
Yes.
No. Wiggle your big toe, Madrox.
What's that got to-
Wiggle your big toe.
Jamie Madrox wiggled his big toe. He was trained as an escape artist. Handcuffs, ropes, it was all the same. But the Dupe knew that. The Dupe knew that and Jamie Madrox Prime needed to focus on anything but. And so he wiggled his big toe. He'd seen it in a movie once - Tarantino. Kill Bill. Volume One or Two? Don't remember. Doesn't matter. - which meant that the Dupe had seen it too.
Focus, Madrox. Don't think about him, think about yourself.
Same person, kinda hard.
He didn't notice when the ropes were gone. Like I said - thought? - didn't need ropes.
He didn't notice when the blindfold was removed. Dark outside.
He didn't notice when the gag was removed. Not at first. No one to talk to. Why would I speak? It's only when he screamed that he realized he could hear himself.
Free.
Jamie Madrox struggled to his feet. He was weak. Tired. Terrified. And even without the restraints, he couldn't move.
Wiggle your big toe.
He couldn't so he screamed.